7 hours agoVerma: We have a stable pledge to the people of Kosovo, and this will continue
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma has said she hopes the process of normalising reports between Kosovo and Serbia will end with mutual recognition. He has reiterated his support for Brussels' dialogue, with what cases he has said it is important that the parties fulfil the pledges they have taken [...]
He has reiterated support for Brussels' dialogue, with which the charter has said it is important that the parties fulfil the pledges they made years ago.
I think we all hope for a degree of normalisation that would lead to mutual recognition. But, to get to that point, some steps must be taken, and I believe that the process of dialogue, mediated by the EU, will lead to that point, if properly applied”,is he expressing himself.
Kosovo and Serbia hold dialogue on normalisation of reports since 2011. In 2023, the parties reached the agreement on the road to normalisation of reports and Anex for its implementation.
The 11 provisions agreement, among other things, envisions a level of self-awareness for the Serb community in Kosovo, mutual recognition of state symbols, so that Serbia does not block Kosovo's membership in international organisations, and calls for Pristina and Belgrade to implement, as well, all previous agreements reached during dialogue.
However, this agreement, according to the EU, has not started to be implemented by the parties.
Asked about guarantees the international community could grant Kosovo if it implements its part of the agreement, Verma said this pact is binding, despite Serbia's expressing reservations for it.
Belgrade has refused to sign this agreement, but the EU has said it is responsible for the parties.
“We believe the terms of the agreement are legally binding and both countries have pledged for the principles of this agreement. So what I think is in the interest not only of bilateral relations between Serbia and Kosovo, but also of regional security, as well as of the people who wish the two countries would be able to sit down and work on resolving this matter”, The senior American official said in an interview for KTV.
On the other hand, Verma has stressed that when Washington and Pristina have the challenge of disagreements, “openly talk about them”.
And I mentioned that sometimes unilateral actions -- for example, like closing some institutions -- can also send the wrong signal where Kosovo Serbs adapt to society and I think this has been challenging for continued progress in the relaxed discussion between the two states. We have an important and stable pledge to the people of Kosovo, and this will continue to”, He's got a point.
